Former NIU QB Jordan Lynch To Work Out For Bears On April 18

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(CBS) — Jordan Lynch believes he can play quarterback in the NFL, and he’ll get the chance to state his case in a private workout with his hometown team later this month.

The former Northern Illinois quarterback told CBSChicago.com on Wednesday that he has a workout scheduled with the Bears on April 18, and it’s “strictly for quarterback,” he said.

Lynch threw for 6,209 yards and 51 touchdowns during his NIU career, starting every game his last two seasons. But the quarterback also ran for 4,343 yards and 48 touchdowns, which is why many believe he could play running back at the next level.

Lynch went to the NFL Combine as a quarterback, but he also went through some running back drills. At his Pro Day last month, scouts and coaches asked him to do some defensive back drills.

“I heard a lot of positive feedback at defensive back. A lot of teams said I looked like a natural doing it,” Lynch said in an interview Wednesday.

So far through the predraft process, the 2013 Heisman Trophy finalist has received a lot of polarizing feedback from NFL teams.

“Some teams are looking for that change of pace quarterback, go in there and run the option and just give defenses a different look,” Lynch said. “There are definitely teams that love my ability and love my athleticism to play safety or running back or even slot receiver. It’s kind of 50-50 with the teams that like me at quarterback and the teams that like me at running back.”

Based on what Lynch said, it looks like the Bears are evaluating him at quarterback, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they work him out at other positions too.

Of course, the workout certainly doesn’t mean the Bears are going to draft Lynch, so consider it either an expression of interest or a really good bluff.

Adam Hoge covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHoge.